Interaction between Fluid Urban Spaces and Reduction of Vulnerability to Risks and Threats in Urban Crises

Abstract

Tremendous technological developments in contemporary world have transformed all aspects of human life. Through interaction with these developments, living spaces should correspond to science and technology and serve to satisfy basic human needs especially safety and security. Due to their geographical and political situation, many countries have been exposed to a variety of natural or man-made threats, and have suffered heavy human and financial losses. For that reason, urban developments should make use of digital architecture products and create fluidity in order to modify human living spaces in correspondence with prerequisites of passive defense, for vulnerability reduction, and expansion of defensive measures in order to create an environment which holds the potential to overcome crises. The present research investigates the benefits of digital technology in formation of living spaces and the impact of approach to flexible urban spaces on mutual interaction between man and environment, as well as the extent to which these transformations create a sense of security and reduce vulnerabilities in urban crises. Fluidity of environment is in paradigm with active human responses to environment. The need for creating an environment safe from risks and threats is the motive behind the approach to flexibility with the use of technological advent. As a part of environment and by relying on computers and geometrical language, technology generates forms which are manifested in all parts and elements of living spaces, thus creating potential and elastic environments. It seems that by creating flexible spaces with the use of digital products, these environmental changes lead to organization of development plans, reduce vulnerability against natural risks and man-made threats, increase efficiency after said threat is realized, and significantly contain the extent and intensity of damages and losses.